UTA 90, North Texas 67
Offensively, that was probably one our better games next to Rice, especially in that second half. [Hervey and Neal] in that second half were both awesome. They played the way I needed them to play. Both these guys are facilitators. They’re as good shooters as anybody, but they also make other guys better and they did that time and time again in the second half.
— UTA Coach Scott Cross
The last time the Mean Green came to Arlington, UTA played a spectacular game at Texas Hall and won 97-64. Tonight’s game was a bit closer at times, but never really in doubt. And a nice final 10:00 of the game for UTA really put the game out of reach. UTA is playing really good basketball right now. The kind of ball you’d like to be playing in March. As a 10 seed or something.
My tweets below pretty much sum up the game. UTA used its successful formula of pressuring the other team’s guards on the inbounds, allow little scoring inside, rebound every missed shot, fast break if possible and pass, pass, pass and keep the defense chasing the ball until a good shot opens up. Seriously, the Mavs could play ball in a rain storm and the ball would never get wet–it just doesn’t stay still long enough.
About 6 minutes later, UTA had outscored UNT 14-7 and it was essentially over.
Kevin Hervey had 15 points on 8-14 shooting, 1-2 from 3, 3-5 FT. 15 rebounds as well. Makes it looks so easy somehow.
Erick Neal had 6 points and 9 assists and 5 steals…what a game with some of the passes and dribbling past defenders.
Wilson scored 13 on 5-10 shooting
Kennedy Eubanks 4-4 shooting, 3-3 from 3 for 11 points in 11 minutes
Jorge Bilbao 8 points, 3 assists and 9 rebounds
Overall, a good win against a UNT team that’s now 2-5. The Mean Green have some really good shooters and can defend really well at times, but UTA’s rebounding (47 for UTA, 29 for UNT) and overall athleticism was just too much. Glad to see the rivalry continue. Good crowd of 5100 on hand to see it (although it didn’t seem like all that many UNT fans in attendance…mostly UTA fans it seemed).
Up next: Friday at UTEP then a couple of days until Bradley comes to town on Tuesday. Lots of good basketball the last 2 or 3 weeks. Go Mavs!
https://twitter.com/thelonghorns12/status/672608492247605248
Star-Telegram game story
Denton Record-Chronicle game story
UTA Athletics game story
GoMeanGreen.com basketball message board (several threads about the game)
Denton Record Chronicle game blog
The Rusty Maverick 